Singapore River Cruise

Singapore River Cruise operates the bumboats that glide along the Singapore River, and its 40-minute trip linking Clarke Quay, Boat Quay and Marina Bay is one of the easiest ways to understand how the city grew. The boats are modelled on the traditional bumboats that once carried goods between ships anchored offshore and the warehouses lining the river, when this stretch of water was the commercial heart of the colonial port.

The cruise passes restored shophouses, historic bridges and old godowns that now house restaurants and bars, before the river widens at its mouth and the view opens out to the Merlion, The Fullerton Hotel and the Marina Bay skyline. Along the way, commentary explains the history of the riverbanks, from the coolies who unloaded cargo by hand to the clean-up of the river in the 1970s and 1980s that transformed it into the leisure area seen today. The boats are covered, so the trip is comfortable in sun or light rain.

Walk-ins are welcome, and tickets can be bought at the jetty counters before departure or online. Boats board at several jetties with their own departure hours. Clarke Quay Jetty operates from 11am to 10pm from Monday to Thursday and from 10am to 10.30pm from Friday to Sunday; Bayfront South and Clifford Pier jetties have departures from 10.30am to 9pm daily; and Read Bridge jetty has departures from 1pm to 10pm daily. Adult tickets cost S$28 and children aged 3 to 11 pay S$18. A Laser Show Cruise, timed to the evening light show on Marina Bay, departs from Clarke Quay Jetty only.

An evening cruise, when the skyline and riverside bars are lit up, is the most atmospheric option, while a daytime trip is better for photographs of the architecture. The cruise suits all ages, including young children and older travellers who prefer not to walk long distances, and it is a good choice for a first evening in the city.

Clarke Quay Jetty is close to Clarke Quay MRT station, and Clifford Pier is near Raffles Place and Downtown stations. Combine the cruise with dinner by the river, such as at JUMBO Seafood at Riverside Point or Song Fa Bak Kut Teh on New Bridge Road, or with a drink at one of the bars along Boat Quay.